Children grow and develop so quickly during the first few years of life. Many development milestones, such as learning to walk and talk, are reached during these early childhood years. Pediatricians help support early childhood development milestones in several ways, from monitoring children’s progress toward reaching specific milestones to recommending interventions to get back on track if there are delays.
Early Childhood Development Milestones
During early childhood, kids grow and develop in several areas, including language, cognition, behavior, and fine and gross motor skills. They reach numerous milestones during these early years. Some significant development milestones during early childhood include:
Infants (birth to 1 year): Key milestones during this time include learning to roll over and sit up without support. The first tooth usually also comes in at this age. Other milestones include pulling oneself up to a standing position, babbling and saying mama or dada, smiling at others, and playing simple games like peek-a-boo.
Toddlers (1-3 years): Major milestones for toddlers between the ages of 1 and 3 include mastering walking, including walking up and down stairs, dressing themselves with some assistance, and feeding themselves with minimal spilling. Additionally, toddlers can recognize and label colors correctly and learn to take turns. Toddlers are also able to say more words and expand their vocabulary during this time.
Preschoolers (3-6 years): Development milestones for preschoolers from 3-6 years of age include skipping, hopping on one foot, and catching a bounced ball. Preschoolers can also draw stick figures and specific shapes, complete various tasks independently, recognize some written works, and begin understanding the concepts of time and size. Additionally, children’s balance greatly improves at this age.
Role of Pediatricians
Pediatricians play an important role in supporting early childhood development milestones. They track when children reach different milestones to ensure your child is developing on schedule. Pediatricians also recommend treatments or interventions if delays in development occur, such as learning to talk or walk at a later age.
Some of the many ways pediatricians support early childhood development milestones include:
- Conduct regular wellness checkups
- Monitor and track growth and development
- Guide on when different milestones are typically reached
- Provide health, wellness, and nutrition guidance to help children enjoy optimal health and reach development milestones on schedule
- Perform developmental screenings to check for delays
- Perform diagnostic evaluations to determine the cause of delays
- Developing intervention or treatment to address development delays
- Collaborate with or make referrals to specialists when needed
Pediatricians play an important role in supporting early childhood development milestones. Speak with a pediatrician to learn more about different development milestones and the ages when they are expected to be reached.